From London to Brisbane: Valentino

MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: MINISTRY OF THE ARTS

Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh has announced a second international fashion exhibition, direct from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, will show at Queensland Art Gallery in March 2010.

The Premier said Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones, March 27 – June 27, will be followed by the fashion blockbuster, Valentino, Retrospective — Past/Present/Future at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), August 7 – November 7.

“Women and fashion lovers from all over the country will be heading to Brisbane for these two very special exhibitions,” Ms Bligh said.

“Hats draws on the collections of London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, renowned for its fine holdings of art and design.

”The exhibition has been developed in collaboration with one of the world’s foremost milliners, Stephen Jones, who will be in Brisbane for the launch.

“It features more than 250 works, from early pieces such as a 12th century Egyptian fez and a 17th century Doge’s hat, to designs created for some of the world’s great fashion houses, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Christian Dior.”

Ms Bligh said the Valentino exhibition of 100 garments traced Valentino Garavani’s career from the 1959 opening of his Rome fashion house to the present

“The Queensland Government has provided financial support to enable the Gallery to bring this exclusive exhibition to Brisbane,” she said.

“Valentino himself will be in Brisbane for the launch of the stunning exhibition, which has been designed and realised by Les Arts Décoratifs, Paris, with the assistance of the Valentino fashion house.

“Valentino has dressed generations of successful and glamorous women, and this exhibition includes dresses worn by celebrities including Jackie Onassis and Julia Roberts.”

The exhibition has been organised in Australia by the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Exhibitions Australia.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said the Gallery was pleased to show these important fashion exhibitions.

“Valentino, Retrospective — Past/Present/Future will be complemented by an exhibition for children, featuring work drawn from the Gallery collection, which will explore the relationship between fashion and art,” Mr Ellwood said.